<u><b><i>A Christmas to Remember</i></b></u>


<b><i>Source:</i></b> Netgalley/Library
<b><i>Dates Read:</i></b> 12/1/23 - 12/21/23
<b><i>Average Stars:</i></b> 3.5


<b>Dream a Little Dream</b> - <i><b>Lucky Harbor, Book 8.5</b></i> - Jill Shalvis - <b><i> 4 Stars</i></b> - <i>Ian O’Malley, Melissa Mann </i> - This is super cute and super steamy at one point. Starts off a little scary with Melissa caught in a building fire but I think you can guess she gets her HEA in the end.

<b>Every Year</b> - <i><b>Chaos, Book 2.5</b></i> - Kristen Ashley - <b><i> 2.5 Stars</i></b> - <i> Shy Cage, Tabby, Landon Cage, all of Tabby’s family </i> - This was okay. Probably would have been more impactful if I knew the characters better. I did skip the last sex scene, not in the mood. I was also annoyed by Tabby always calling Shy “my man”. Glad she cut that out about halfway through.

<b>Silent Night</b> - <i><b>Last Chance, Book 6.5</b></i> - Hope Ramsey - <b><i> 4 Stars</i></b> - <i> Daniel Jessup, Maryanne Carpenter, Joshua Carpenter </i> -Very sweet. I’d actually love to see more of how their relationship builds as neither character is really ready for romantic entanglements as this ends. It was also nice to have a small cast. A lot of Christmas stories are these big coming together of many parts of a family, which I love, but I also appreciated this small quiet time with just a few characters. Oh, and they better adopt that cat.

<b>Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas </b> - <i><b>Everson, Texas, Book .5</b></i> - Molly Cannon - <b><i> 4 Stars</i></b> - <i>Lincoln Jones, Dinah Mason </i> - Very instalovey but also cute.

<b>A Family for Christmas</b> - <i><b>Tallgrass, Book 1.5</b></i> - Marilyn Pappano - <b><i> Did Not Read</i></b> - <i>Character Names </i> - I ran out of steam and didn’t read this one. My moody little heart could not stand to meet any more new people. I’m sorry Ms. Pappano.

Very interesting anthology with a variety of stories. I found it to be thick enough, and have enough stories that were easy to read and pleasurable.

Anthologies tend to be mixed bags for me, and this one wasn't the exception.

"Dream a Little Dream" by Jill Shalvis didn't work for me because I didn't feel the characters addressed the things that had originally driven them apart. Further, there are a couple of serious emotional issues brought up (grief, abandoment issues, death of a sibling, for one) that are handwaved aside in favor of a facile "but they love each other" cutesy gesture on the heroine's part. (4/10)

"Every Year" by Kristen Ashley was a DNF (I had forgotten this was a motorcycle club story, I can't stand them)

"Silent Night" by Hope Ramsay was the stand out story in the anthology for me, even though it's not a romance story per se; the writing voice is lovely, and both characters are good people, but the issues in their lives are weighty and require time and effort to work through. Leaving them as they begin that journey felt exactly right. I will be reading more by this author. (7.5/10)

"Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas" by Molly Cannon is an entertaining "opposites attract" story, with our sunshiny super organized heroine and grumpy slob hero. Despite the brevity, there's a real sense of community around the two main, quite likable, main characters. (7/10)

"A Family for Christmas" by Marilyn Pappano left me conflicted, because the writing voice is lovely, the characterization accomplished, and the world the story is set in is more than background for what's happening between the two main characters. However, this made the ending, where none of the hero's family issues are actually addressed or solved, ring false. (6/10)

These stories were cute and fun to read around Christmas time. There are a few different stories by different authors and then snippets from other non-Christmas related books also. I will say that I enjoyed the Christmas stories more than the snippets from other books but that's just because they were complete stories and fun to read around the holidays. I would recommend and it is easy to read them in between other things since they are their own separate short stories.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A great collection of Christmas romances that was a great escape read.
Many thanks to Forever Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I f0rgot to review this one, but loved it! Gave five stars on GR back in 2013! Long time ago, but I'd like to read this one again.

Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis: While the story was thirty-some pages of adorable, it was too short. Not just because I love Jill Shalvis work, but because we were in and out of the story so fast the reader can’t connect. There was no setting description, no getting to know the characters (for the first time or again, depending on your reading habits), no build-up of emotions. As much as I thought the story was cute, it had the potential to be longer and thus more fulfilling.

Every Year by Kristen Ashley: Unlike the previous story, short as they both are, this one was not very good. The characters were flat, the storyline somewhat confusing, and the writing awkward. There was such repetition of “my man” that this formally aw-factor phrase became a pet peeve. So while the premise was sound, it was poorly executed and thus not work reading unless perhaps you are already familiar with the characters and like them. To me, this one just did not fit the overall aesthetic.

Silent Night by Hope Ramsay: The characters were well-developed, the romance sweet, and the plot came to a happy conclusion. There was no insta-love, but rather the promise it will grow after the story ended which gives hope that MA will get her life sorted to where she feels confident in herself and thus the relationship as well. The novella was well written, but could have had more beginning and an extended ending for a longer tale. Nevertheless, it is one of my favourite in this compilation.

Have Yourself A Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon: While I might wish it was longer, this story was the most “complete” in that it did not feel like parts of the plot were missing. Some of the details skimmed by and it lacked emotional intensity, but it is a well-rounded story with a beginning, middle, and end. I will be looking for more books by this author as the story was written wonderfully and I enjoyed the characters.

A Family For Christmas by Marilyn Pappano: Usually widows are reluctant to love again, yet in this case Ilena jumps in with both feet and no hesitation, perfectly ready for a new relationship. I found this to be fresh and unique, but her insta-love to Jared made the relationship seem more desperate than romantic. Her security of self and love, left it to the doctor to develop as a character, but overcoming his obstacles was not seen –merely introduced then again fait accompli.

Dream A Little Dream (Lucky Harbor #8.5) by Jill Shalvis - 4 Stars

Very cute quick read. It was so beautiful and hilarious to read; Melissa, who is afraid of relationships, and Ian, the sexy firefighter who loves Melissa, have a very interesting “friendship.” I loved that Ian truly did not give up on Melissa and I loved that Melissa overcame her past to fight for Ian.

I did NOT read any of the books in the Lucky Harbor series and I was NOT confused or lost while reading this short story.


Every Year (Chaos #2.5) by Kristen Ashley - 3.75 Stars

I do suggest reading Own the Wind to fully enjoy this novella about Tabatha, her man, Shy, and his brother Landon.

This is only in Tabatha’s POV and you get to see the magic of an Allen Christmas. You definitely get more Tabatha and Shy and all their passionate sweet loveliness, but you also get to see Landon and Shy revolve bad memories with good ones.

I loved this insight to our favorite Chaos family, I hope Landon gets a book soon.


MORE TO COME...

curl up with this heartwarming Christmas collection!

Jill Shalvis, Dream a Little Dream: Melissa has kept every man at a safe distance-especially firefighter Ian, a sexy friend with sexy benefits. But Ian secretly longs for more. Luckily, 'tis the season for giving love a chance . . .

REVIEW: A cute little feel-good story. Although predictable, it still made me go all teary-eyed one moment and smile the next. I enjoyed this quick read with its steamy romance.

Kristen Ashley, Every Year: Holidays don't come easy for Shy and his brother, Landon. But with the magic of Christmas, along with a little help from Tabby and her family, the Cage brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime . . .

REVIEW: This lovely story was about 24 hours of a CHAOS family Christmas. For those who have read the books, it is Shy and Lan’s first happy family Christmas since they were children. The story was warm, heartfelt and still packed in some hot romance. I loved it.

Hope Ramsay, Silent Night: Down on her luck and evicted from her apartment, single mother Maryanne hopes to start over in Last Chance. When the snow begins to fall, it looks like her baby might literally spend Christmas Eve in a manger. And Maryanne might celebrate the holiday with a handsome stranger.

REVIEW: This was a rather melancholy story with a happy hopeful ending. If you like stories about fate and destiny, then you will like reading how they found not only each other on Christmas Eve but that dreams do come true.

Molly Cannon, Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Lincoln is a bachelor who's set in his ways-until a professional organizer dressed up as Mrs. Claus changes his life, one tip at a time. . .

REVIEW: This was a cute little story showing how opposites do attract. I liked it, but wish the characters were more developed.

Marilyn Pappano, A Family for Christmas: War widow Ilena doesn't mind spending Christmas alone. But when a new doctor blows into town with the winter wind, will she get her secret Christmas wish?

REVIEW: This was one of those little romances that make you go awww and leaves you smiling.

NOTE: Each author also added an excerpt from their upcoming novels. They were a nice little peek into what is coming.
REVIEW POSTED ON AMAZON UNDER THE NAME OF READING IN PAJAMAS

3.5

Book source ~ NetGalley

Dream a Little Dream (Lucky Harbor #8.5) ~ Jill Shalvis (4 bites) ~ Melissa has a near death experience that makes her rethink her treatment of Ian. Staring Death in the face will do that to a person.

Every Year (Chaos #2.5) ~ Kristen Ashley (DNF 1 bite) ~ This may be a perfectly fine story, but I could not stand the beginning. Apparently I don’t like motorcycle romances. Old lady? My man? And every single damn person has a nickname. I gave up. Next!

Silent Night (Last Chance #6.5) ~ Hope Ramsey (3 bites) ~ The writing is a bit simplistic and Maryanne has an idiot moment, but otherwise a decent heart wringing tale.

Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas (Everson, Texas #0.5) ~ Molly Cannon (4 bites) ~ Dinah is a bit too perky and anal about organization to like completely, but she seems to be perfect for slob Lincoln.

A Family for Christmas (Tallgrass #1.5) ~ Marilyn Pappano (4 bites) ~ I’m not completely sold on Jared (he better change his attitude about Ilena’s former in-laws pdq), but I really like Ilena.

With big names in romance like Jill Shalvis and Kristen Ashley, I expected this to be a better anthology than most, but it sadly wasn't. Some of the stories were quick, easy holiday reads, but others were poor in quality with cringe-worthy plots or moments. Read in 2013.

This is a great book of short stories that will surly put you in the Christmas spirit. I thought each story brought a little something of it own to the overall book and made me want to keep reading through each one.

Lots of great authors in this collection of short stories that I love to read so that made this collection even more enjoyable for me. I highly recommend this one to put you in the Holiday spirit!

Dream a Little Dream by Jill Shalvis (❆❆½) was an okay story, I guess, since the trope of near-death experience changing a reluctant mind has been done so many times it's disintegrating at the seams.

There wasn't much of a backstory to give the reader the possibility of actually getting to know the characters...And figuring out why they actually love each other, but the whole story was pretty sweet.



I haven't even finished chapter one of Every Year (DNF) by Kristen Ashley and I was bored.

It had loads of my pet peeves: first-person POV, infantile narration, description galore just to have something to fill up the pages...

Next, please!



Silent Night by Hope Ramsay (❆) was another snooze-fest of a story with both characters having a boo-hoo past, a meh encounter, and an improbable insta-love romance.



Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas by Molly Cannon (❆❆½) was a cute opposites-attract story. It could've (should've) been longer, though, for the reader to get to know the characters better and for the romance to develop a bit more leisurely.
As it was, the action-reaction didn't wasn't really believable, since it was all rather rushed.

Still, it was cute and sweet.



A Family for Christmas by Marilyn Pappano (❆❆❆❆) was the best story of the bunch for me.

It felt "adult" both in theme, voice, narration and characters. I liked the flow of it, I liked how the relationship and romance slowly blossomed instead of instantaneously appearing out of nowhere, and I liked how, despite the shortness of it, I actually got to know and like the characters in it.

The only thing that bothered me was the final resolution. It came across rather abruptly, like made at the snap of the fingers without much background as to how the choice was made.

Still, it was lovely, mature, and definitely the gem of this collection.

Only read the stories by Kristen Ashley and Jill Shalvis and lvoed them both. I loved revisiting Chaos MC in Kristen Ashley's story. I liked how we saw the tender more romantic side of the biker's life.
Jill Shalvis' story featuring a hot firefighter was the perfect holiday romance - sweet and sexy, with the promise of HEA.

A great collection of Christmas stories! I really enjoy reading these during the holidays and they always make me feel the holiday spirit!